Stretcher for picking up and transport of injured or sick persons



J. NIVEAU Aug. 13, "196 8 STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANSPORT OFINJURED OR SICK PERSONS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1968 J.NIVEAU 3,396,414

STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANSPORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS FiledSept. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 13, 1968 J. NIVEAU 3,39

STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANSPORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS FiledSept. 22, 1966 s sheets-sheet 5 United States Patent 3 396 414 STRETCHERFOR PICKING UP AND TRANS- PORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS Jean Niveau,72 Rue Bauer, Forbach, France Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 581,374Claims priority, applicagitzrzsFrance, Sept. 23, 1965,

6 Claims. (Cl. -81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention isdirected to .a stretcher for picking up an injured or sick person andfor their transport.

T rough-shaped stretch'ers are already known. However, these stretchersdo not allow an injured person to be moved comfortably, particularlypeople hurt at the spine or at the pelvis. Raising such an injuredperson by the arms to put them into the stretcher could aggravate theircondition and could cause other lesions.

The stretcher which forms the subject of this invention avoids theaforesaid disadvantage and allows an easy means of picking up injuredpersons, even in confined spaces.

According to the invention the two longest sides of the stretcher areremovable. The sides can be slid, individually, under the body of theinjured person to form a sort of plate permitting the injured person tobe picked up without previously lifting the person from the ground.

In the transport position, the stretcher according to this invention issimilar in form and dimensions to known stretchers.

Advantageously each of the two removable sides is formed by a sheet ofsteel or aluminium fixed rigidly at one of its large sides on a stringerformed by a steel tube, said stringer being fixed by keying to the restof the stretcher frame.

Advantageously staffs are provided to allow more convenient transport.

For picking up an injured person, the removable sides are loosen fromthe stretcher and slid under the injured person, one on the right side,the other on the left side. The removable sides are then joined togetherto form the picking up plate.

This joining together is realized advantageously by two bars enteringinto sleeves fixed on the removable sides.

The picking up plate preferably has a reduced width with regard to theknown stretchers, permitting its use in very confined areas such as coalmines.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanyingnon-limitative exemplary drawings will give a clear understanding of thevarious features of this invention and the art of carrying them intopractice.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 represents a view of the stretcher accordingto invention, in transport position, one of the removable sides beingrepresented separately so as to facilitate the understanding.

FIGURE 2 represents a sectional view of FIGURE 1 at lines IIII.

FIGURE 3 represents one of the movable staffs.

FIGURE 4 represents the two removable sides joined in picking upposition.

3,395,414 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 "ice FIGURE 5 represents another formof the realization of the stretcher frame.

FIGURE 6 represents a front view of the frame of FIG- URE 5.

Refering to FIGURE 1, the stretcher comprises a rigid frame includingtwo bars 1a and 1b of steel tube and two slats 2a and 217.

On this frame is fixed the bottom 3 of the stretcher for example madewith aluminium sheet or with plastic material, transparent or not toX-rays.

On both sides of the frame the form of which is generally rectangular,two removable sides are fixed each of them including a tubular slat 4and plate 5 made with sheet metal rivetted on three angle-iron, weldedon the slat 4.

The tubular slats 4 are joined at the frame by putting them intoU-shaped pieces 6 welded on the frame, and are fixed by bolts which inturn are attached by two small chains 8 to the slats. Each slat has twohandles 9.

In transport position, each of the thin sheets 5 of the two removablesides press [against the interior of the tubes 1a and 1b of the frame asrepresented in FIGURE 2. The keying by pins 7 avoids fluttering of thesheet 5.

The movable stafifs 10 one of which is represented on FIGURE 3, arefixed on the extremities of the slats. They comprise a tube 11 includinga slit 12 on the upper part, and a hole on the lower :part.

In transport position the pins 7 pass through the staffs thereby fixingthem in the desired position.

FIGURE 4 represents the two removable sides separated from the frame andjoined in the pick-up position. The connection between the two removablesides is realized by means of two pegs 13a and 1311 which are fittedinto U-shaped pieces or sleeves 14 welded on the slats 4.

The pegs 13a and 13b are fixed in the desired position by pins 7. Theplate formed preferably has a width not over 14 inches, which permitsits use in confined areas.

The section of the pegs 13a and 13b could have any form, but a roundedor squared shape is preferred. In transport position the pegs arepositioned in two or four movable staffs the orifice of which is thesame as the section of the pegs. A ring serves to pull the pegs fromtheir lodging in which they are held by a ball steel pawl.

For picking up a hurt person, the two removable sides are separated fromthe frame and the sheets are slid under the injured person, one on theright side, and the other under the left side till the sheets 5 areunder the hurt person as shown on FIGURE 4. The injured person is notlifted during this operation. The two removable sides are then joinedtogether by means of the pegs 13a and 13b. Thus, the injured personlying on the formed plate (FIG URE 4) can be transported above the frameof the stretcher. The pegs 13a and 13b are then withdrawn and the sheets5 slowly retired from under the injured person to position the person onthe bottom 3 of the stretcher. Then, the slats 4 are replaced and fixedwith pins 7 into the U-shaped pieces so that the sheets 5 close thestretcher in the right and the left sides. Thus, the stretcher is readyto transport the injured person.

The frame of the stretcher according to the invention can have a formdifferent from the form shown in FIG- URE 1, the form of the removablesides of the stretcher being the same as shown in FIGURE 1.

This variant is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The frame consists of twobeams 1a and 1b, two bars 2a and 2b and a bottom 3. Two air cushions 15,distended by tire valve 16, are fixed on the bottom 3 of the stretcherby a bridle 17.

The bottom 3 of the stretcher has on its two extremities holes 18 asshown in FIGURE 6. U-shaped pieces are provided on the frame to fastenthe removable sides.

The disposition of the frame of the stretcher according to FIGURES 5 and6 allows different utilizations of the stretcher.

It is possible for example to lay down the plate bearing the sickperson, represented on FIGURE 4, on the frame of the stretcher. In thiscase the distended air cushions 15 serve to absorb the shocks andvibrations received by the frame and the removable staffs are pulled outthrough the orifices 18 so as to eliminate the risks of sliding andfalling.

The stretcher can also be utilized as described previously, i.e. byloosening the removable sides of the plates shown on FIGURE 4 and usingthem as the large sides of the stretcher.

If necessary a sick person can be carried to the hospital on the plateshown on FIGURE 4 and the frame utilized as a stretcher for thetransport of another injured or sick person, the part of the beams 2opposite the holes 18 forming handles allowing an easy operation of theframe.

Of course the stretcher according to the invention can include fasteningstraps for the injured person. According to a mode of advantageousrealization, the picking up plate includes three straps attached on thebeams of the removable sides.

The adjustable central strap includes rubber cuffs destined to hold theforearm of the injured man during his transport on the plate. The frameincludes two or three straps.

What is claimed is:

1. A patient-carrying system comprising: a frame having two oppositeopen sides; two removable panels each of which is constituted by a firstmember and a rigid plate fixed thereto, said first member beingremovably fitted to said frame to close said opposite sides thereof;removable securing means for securing each of said panels to said framein said side closing position, whereby a stretcher is formed; strutmeans for positively interconnecting said panels in adjacentrelationship after removing the same from said frame side closingposition; and removable fixing means for securing said strut means onsaid first members, whereby a litter is formed which is distinct fromsaid stretcher.

2. The patient-carrying system of claim 1 wherein said frame is U-shapedand said first member is tubular.

3. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidremovable securing means comprise pins and sleeves attached to saidframe. 3

4. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said strutmeans comprise two bars fitting into said sleeves.

5. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 2 further comprisingfour staffs.

6. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 2 further comprisingair cushions fixed on said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,128 7/1950 Gomelski 5823,045,257 7/1962 Knapp 5112 X 3,110,912 11/1963 Propst 582 3,111,68711/1963 Sacks 582 3,252,169 5/1966 Propst 581 X 3,264,659 8/1966 Magniet a1 5-82 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

